Position on Drafting a New Housing Element

  Overall Policy

To maximize permanently affordable housing opportunities for lower income San Franciscans, especially seniors, families, people at-risk or currently homeless, and people with special needs.

Policy 1:

To ensure in all three parts of the Housing Element- the Needs (data) Section, the Policy Section and the Implementation Section- adopted in the Housing Element, quantify, support and advance our overall policy.

Policy 2:

That policies and programs be adopted that link the production of market rate housing to increased permanently affordable housing opportunities and the development of sustainable infrastructural facilities including public transit, schools and community facilities, parks and employment opportunities.

Policy 3:

That policies and programs be adopted that protect and enhance current low income communities and neighborhoods, protects rent controlled housing from conversions and demolition. Increases in residential density, height and bulk, and reductions in parking requirements should be permitted only if they also result in significant increases in affordability of the housing created, especially to lower income households.

Policy 4:

That all “smart growth” and “sustainable development” ( as required by SB375) policies adopted clearly delineate how they will be consistent with increasing affordable housing opportunities and result in housing able to be afforded by a San Francisco based- non-commuter- workforce.